Scotmid want to relocate Armadale Thistle to Watson Park

Feb 4 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

SCOTMID are preparing a planning application to relocate Armadale Thistle to the town’s Watson Park.

At the moment the football club plays their games at Volunteer Park, which sits just behind the site occupied by the supermarket chain’s store on West Main Street.

But in partnership with Centrex — who own a controlling stake in Armadale Thistle — Scotmid want to reduce the size of their existing store by two-thirds.

They then propose to build a supermarket, to be occupied by another as yet unknown chain, with 150 car parking spaces on the site of the football ground.

As part of the proposals the supermarket company promised to find Armadale Thistle a new home.

And last week Scotmid announced they were to submit a planning application to West Lothian Council for permission to build a stadium for the club along with an access road and car parking at Watson Park.

Scotmid’s Malcolm Brown told the Courier: “We have been quite quiet in putting this together. But behind the scenes we have been working away so that when we go forward to the council and the public with what we are offering for the football club and the town centre.

“This will give the football club control over their ground and the store will be anchored in the town centre. It is a double bonus ball for the town and that’s why we are looking forward to the public exhibition next week to hear what the people of the town think.”

However they could face opposition from the council itself, who have a planning application pending for land they own at Watson Park.

The foodstore would either be built on the land directly behind McNeil Crescent, where there is an existing football pitch, or on land directly east of North Street, the site of the existing bowling green and pavilion.

Scotmid will now hold a public exhibition of the proposals at Colinshiel Court on the town’s McNeil Crescent on February 10 and 11 from 2 to 8pm.